sort out
Britishverb
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to find a solution to (a problem, etc), esp to make clear or tidy
it took a long time to sort out the mess
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to take or separate, as from a larger group
he sorted out the most likely ones
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to organize into an orderly and disciplined group
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informal to beat or punish
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They would first need to sort out their own differences and unite behind a candidate for first minister.
From BBC • May 1, 2026
Buyers do, however, need to sort out insurance before the car leaves the lot.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
Most of my book is devoted to trying to sort out this political enigma, and how the movement and its consequences might be understood.
From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026
Last month, Disney requested an investigation to sort out Paul’s and Mortensen’s differing accounts of the February incident, according to people close to the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly the sensitive situation.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026
So there was a fair number of them to sort out too.
From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
